McCarver to retire from broadcasting after 2013 season

Longtime Fox Sports baseball analyst Tim McCarver announced this afternoon that he will retire from the broadcast booth after this season.

“I’ve informed Fox Sports that I will not seek to extend my contract to broadcast baseball past the 2013 season,” McCarver said in a prepared statement read at the beginning of a conference call. “Although I am neither tired of broadcasting baseball nor have I in any way lost my interest in baseball, with which I have been associated as a player and broadcaster for 55 years, it’s time to cut back.”

McCarver, 71, has called games for all four major networks. He has been with Fox since 1996. He also called games for the New York Mets games on WWOR (1983-98) and the New York Yankees on WPIX (1999-2001).

“Since 1996, my time with Joe Buck has been filled with some of the most memorable moments in the game’s magnificent history,” McCarver said. “I am very proud to have been a part of all the things that make this game so special for all of us who follow it day-to-day, week-to-week and year-to-year. Finally, to the gifted men and women at Fox with whom I’ve worked with over the last 17 years, your work has been exemplary and unmatched. You’re the best in the business, and it has been a privilege.”